SIGNS OF HUMAN RACE

When you release a new recording does it feel like you have to start a new a couple step back because so much time has passed and so many new bands have entered the scene since the last album or do you just pick up where the last one left?
-We’re not in this situation yet but each album has a story to tell so we don’t want to be anchored to past releases to decide the style of the new ones, unless it is a project that covers two or more albums. We try to be as original as we can, so we don’t really stick to one genre in particular. This means we’re not really influenced by trends and such things, because we stay true to our very own path.

Do you have an aesthetic that you keep true to from recording to recording (i.e. stylistical same art work, lyrical theme etc.)?
-We haven’t released our material yet, but we like to deal with psychological topics and we think this is going to be a permanent feature in our future albums.
For what concerns the artworks, we think they should represent what is proposed musically in order to create a solid and uniform concept. We are also trying to find our unique identity on stage, starting from the clothing.

How hard is it to come up with lyrics to the songs? When do you know thst you have the right lyrics?
-Lyrics are very important for us; the voice and the words are a huge tool for the transmition of the song’s message. Our singer [Remek] is the main lyricist, he always comes up with deep and meaningful lyrics. Sometimes we write the lyrics based on the topic we want to deal with, other times we focus on the instrumental parts first. Either way we try balancing both things and we’re not satisfied until the words piece together perfectly with the music and they convey an interesting message, to us and our listeners.

I am old school. I like really cool album covers but from what I’ve gathered some bands tend to spend less on art work because people don’t buy records, they download songs. What are your feelings on this?
-We think that album covers can tell a lot about the style of a band and can attract people’s attention, especially for underground bands. For us, it is crucial to find a strong cover for your album, without discriminating digital and physical copies; this is a little piece of the puzzle that’s called art and all the pieces must fit together perfectly.

Do you ever feel that you get misinterpreted because of the music you play?
-The genre we play is really difficult to construe. People that haven’t ever heard some of the styles that we put in our songs often lose the overall concept because they tend to analise each style. The genre we’re trying to make has a wide spectrum of influences, the core one being progressive metal, but we like it this way because we are playing a niche genre, so our music may not be for everyone.

I get the feeling that fans that are true to a band, is a lost thing with the easy access to music these days. Do you feel that this is a bad thing or are there any positive aspects of it at all?
-One positive aspect is that people can find more easily underground bands like us, thanks to modern platforms, thus bringing more followers to this little known scene. The negative aspect is that bands have to satisfy the expectations of the fans who sometimes tend to become hypercritical.

Back in the days you had to trade tapes if you wanted to hear new unheard of bands. Today you are just a click away from discovering new acts. Do you feel that this development in some ways will do more harm than good in the long run, that it will eventually kill off music as we know it?
-We feel that nowadays everything is faster: people want more information in less time. No doubts, it’s a positive thing for underground bands, however it can also be detrimental, because it could be possible that you’ll have to step up your game since there are always more and more bands. However, this could also be a negative aspect because musicians could start to lose the value of the attention to details and hidden messages.

I get the impression that today’s touring scene is most made up of festivals or multiple band line-ups. Is it harder/tougher to tour today?
-Back in the day only the famous bands went on tour and supporting acts were seen as a way to go through the wait. Nowadays, festivals and concerts are organized in order to give everyone some space. If you are a band with a little fanbase it can be beneficial to tour with bigger names, it makes promotion easier while giving useful contacts. For now, it is convenient for us.
And anyway, it’s always fun to meet up with other band members and have ourselves a couple of beers!

If you were to decide how would the stage show look like?
-We like the interaction with the public, it puts a nice atmosphere throughout the exhibition. Nice lighting, cool fireworks and a big screen on the back are some nice additions.
The stage should be very scenical and it should emphasize the music that’s being played. However, what really counts in the end is good music and performance.

What does the future hold?
-Our hopes are high, but nothing comes without hard work! Now we are on the verge of releasing our new album!
You can check us out on YouTube (Signs of Human Race) to see our live shows. Thanks for this interview and thanks to you, the readers!